If it was proven, that there was another life in another planet, what would happen to earth?

Answer 1

Every time we have thought that Earth was special in the universe we have found that it is not.

For example, it was once thought that all the planets and the sun revolved around the Earth until Copernicus proved that the sun is the center of the solar system. Then we thought our galaxy was the only galaxy in the universe until we had good enough telescopes to see other galaxies.

So far as we know, the earth is the only planet in the universe with life. So if we discovered life on another planet it would again show that the Earth is nothing special in the universe.

Answer 2

Nothing would happen to the earth per se. Some people would deny we had proven life exists elsewhere, just as they deny our universe is 13.7 billion years old or that multicellular life on our planet is over 600 million years old.

In that respect, there would be very little change. If we proved life existed elsewhere, the implications would be interesting. But communication with that life would remain very difficult--the next nearest star to our own is 4.5 light years away. Imagine this conversation:

Us: Hello

(nine year pause)

Them: Hello.

Us: How are you?

(nine year pause)

Them: Fine. How are you?

For a life bearing solar sytem 50 light years away, the pause stretches out to a century...

Answer 3

We will find microbial life in a Mars or an Enceladus sample return in 20 years, so stick around and you'll find out.

It will be front page news for months, and then fade away because a revolution of this kind will take a generation to sink in.

The unknowns are what's really interesting; Will we find evidence of a separate Genesis? Different or same proteins? Right or left handed chemistry? What are the implications for life as we don't know it, and the ubiquity of life on the rest of the planets and rest of the cosmos? What's our new place in the scheme of things???? Gives me goosebumps, dear.

Answer 4

Probably the same thing that happened when the Sun replaced the Earth as the center of the solar system. The folks who view the information as in conflict with their religious beliefs would get all antsy at first. Then they'd decide the statements don't really conflict with their religious beliefs, and they'd get over it. Nothing is more malleable than the human mind.

Answer 5

I don't think that anything of significance would really happen because we would most likely discover life either in microscopic form (on Mars, Europa, or some other place in the solar system), or by radio observation of extremely distant star systems. Either way, the direct consequence (or threat) to human civilization would be minimal, and I think after a couple of days everyone would just kind of get over it.

Answer 6

In the grand scheme of things, absolutely nothing. It might shake the core beliefs of some people, but in general, I don't think it would have much effect. If the life were intelligent, that might complicate things a bit more, particularly if they were more advanced than us in some technology. The odds are very high that there is life out there somewhere, given the hugh numbers of stars in our own galaxy, and the huge numbers of galaxies in the known universe.

Answer 7

Nothing, unless we tried to initiate contact with said life form, in that case any number of things both positive and negative could occur. Why did you have to ask this question. Aren't you smart enough to have answered it on your own? -john (rock island, il)

Answer 8

Human will try to take over that planet for various uses, and kill the natives and force them to sign treaties. Well, only if they have less fire power than us.

Answer 9

Missionaries will start building their own rockets, and some specializations will arise in Science, but aside from that, nothing much would happen. (Why would it?) I'm pretty sure that knowledge won't make me quit my job and riot in the streets.

Answer 10

Nothing would happen to earth,we would just have proof of something we already know.